🪔 A Diwali Message from the Heart – Author's Announcement 🪔
To all my cherished readers,
From the depths of my soul, I wish you and your loved ones a luminous, peaceful, and spiritually fulfilling Diwali. May the light of this sacred festival guide you through darkness, ignite your inner fire, and remind you of the dharma that lives within us all.
This message isn't a new chapter—but it is a turning point.
It's a call to you, my fellow seekers, dreamers, and lovers of story. A call to help shape the future of Anant, and perhaps, the future of Indian storytelling itself.
I know many of you prefer skipping the Author's Notes, and that's perfectly fine! However, the time has come for a massive decision regarding the future of The Return of Dharma, and I need your input.
The Crossover Question: Where Does Dharma Go Next?
In recent notes, I hinted at a potential crossover, and I have been writing sample drafts and ideas for Anant's next adventure. I need to make preparations—watching series, reading lore, and crafting specific character attitudes, which takes serious time.
🔮 The Crossroads of Creation – A Crossover Proposal
As many of you know, Return of Dharma is more than just a webnovel. It's a living tapestry woven from threads of myth, philosophy, and emotion. It's my humble attempt to restore reverence, depth, and beauty to a medium often drowned in superficial tropes.
Recently, I've been nurturing an idea—a vision, really—of a crossover. A moment where Anant, our dharmic protagonist, steps into another world. Not to conquer it, but to challenge it. To illuminate it. To transform it.
But before I take that leap, I need you.
Would you want Anant to cross into:
🌌 Anime worlds like Naruto, One Piece, Solo Leveling, High School DxD etc—where chakra, haki, and mana meet prana and tapas?
🦸 Western comic realms like Marvel or DC—where gods walk among mortals, but dharma walks alone?
⚔️ Dark fantasy universes like Warhammer 40K, The Lord of the Rings, or Berserk etc—where despair reigns, and only the light of truth can pierce the void?
This isn't just fan service. It's a philosophical experiment. A cultural dialogue. A chance to show that our stories—rooted in Sanatana Dharma—can stand tall beside any global mythos.
But to do this right, I must prepare. I must rewatch, reread, and reabsorb these worlds. I must understand their essence, their flaws, their soul. And then, I must sculpt a narrative where Anant doesn't just fit—but elevates.
💔 Why This Matters – A Cry for Better Stories
Let me speak plainly.
I'm tired.
Tired of reading stories where the MC is a walking cliché—killing mindlessly, collecting women like trophies, and spouting empty arrogance. Tired of villains who are cardboard cutouts, side characters who exist only to flatter the hero, and plots that worship power but forget purpose.
I've read countless webnovels—especially Chinese ones—where nationalism overshadows humanity, where Buddhist and Taoism wisdom is ignored, and where racism and misogyny are casually normalized. I've seen MCs glorify violence, mock cultures, and act more like tyrants than heroes.
And worst of all? I've seen Indian stories reduced to translations. No originality. No pride. No soul.
We are a civilization of storytellers. Our epics are older than empires. Our philosophies are deeper than oceans. Our gods are not just powerful—they are compassionate, complex, and cosmic.
So why do we settle for mediocrity?
Why do we let others define our narratives while we remain silent?
🇮🇳 A Call to Indian Creators – Reclaim the Sacred Flame
We Indians deserve better stories. The world deserves better stories—from us.
Stories where:
Dharma triumphs over blind ambition.
Love is sacred, not transactional.
Power is tempered by wisdom.
Villains are tragic, not cartoonish.
Side characters have dreams, fears, and destinies of their own.
We must write stories that honor our culture—not just mimic others. Stories that challenge colonial beauty standards, elevate spiritual symbolism, and awaken awe.
Just look at Japan, Korea, and even China. They wear their cultural pride like armor. Their stories reflect their soul. It's time we do the same.
🙏 A Personal Plea – From One Soul to Another
I'm not doing this for fame or money. I'm an IT engineer by profession. Writing is my sanctuary. My rebellion. My offering.
I want to inspire others to write—not translate. To create—not copy. To believe—not conform.
So I ask you:
Read Return of Dharma with your heart open.
Review it if it moves you.
Share it if it resonates.
And tell me—honestly—what kind of crossover you'd love to see.
Because this isn't just my story anymore. It's ours.
Together, we can build a new wave of Indian storytelling. One that is proud, profound, and powerful.
Let this Diwali be the beginning.
Of light.
Of legacy.
Of Anant.
⚡ Update: Showcasing Anant's Power & The Crossover Horizon
Dear Wonderful Readers,
I hope the announcement got your minds racing! To give you a clearer idea of the kind of power level and direction Anant Sharma will be headed in a potential crossover, I've included a short, conceptual sample story below.
Please note: This sample is just a random thought, an idea I toyed with while writing Return of Dharma. It serves purely to illustrate Anant's potential power and character attitude in a new setting. It is not a draft of the actual crossover plot.
Sample Story of The Return of Dharma X Naruto( Slight DXD and JJK)
CHAPTER ??: THE EMERGENCY SUMMIT - UNDERSTANDING INFINITY When Legends Meet Truth Beyond Legends THE IMPOSSIBLE GATHERING
The emergency meeting was held in what had once been the Allied Shinobi Forces headquarters—now rapidly reforming from golden rain's continued effects. The structure wasn't complete, but functional enough for the most important gathering in shinobi history.
The attendees alone would have been impossible mere hours ago:
The Five Kage: Tsunade, Gaara, A, Mei, and Ōnoki—each processing resurrection with varying degrees of composure.
The Previous Hokage: Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato—legends returned to flesh.
Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki—the Sage of Six Paths and his brother, founders of everything shinobi knew.
The Nine Bijuu—manifested in miniature forms resembling house pets rather than mountain-sized horrors, sitting attentively around the room.
Orochimaru, Kabuto, and various clan heads and elite jĹŤnin.
And most shockingly—MADARA UCHIHA.
His presence made every Kage tense immediately. Hands moved toward weapons. Chakra flared defensively. Because Madara had been the one who'd started this nightmare—who'd initiated the Fourth Shinobi War, who'd sought Infinite Tsukuyomi, who'd been possessed by Kaguya and transformed into her.
Yet here he stood, looking exactly as he had in his prime—Rinnegan blazing, but expression showing confusion rather than malice.
"Before anyone attacks," Hagoromo's ancient voice carried authority that made even legends pause, "understand that Madara was victim as much as perpetrator. Black Zetsu—Isshiki's corrupted will—manipulated him for decades. Used him as pawn in schemes spanning millennia. He deserves chance to hear truth before we judge him for actions taken under manipulation."
"He still started a WAR," A growled, lightning crackling around him.
"Under false pretenses fed to him by entity we've now learned was corrupted Otsutsuki," Tsunade interjected, though her expression showed she wasn't happy about defending Madara. "According to Team 7's report, most of Madara's crimes stem from believing Black Zetsu was his creation when actually he was being USED."
"We'll address Madara's culpability later," Hashirama stated, his authority as First Hokage carrying weight that silenced objections. "Right now, we need to understand what happened. How we were resurrected. What threats we face. And—" his gaze fixed on Team 7, "—what you four experienced that transformed you into beings whose chakra makes even ME feel inadequate."
All eyes turned to Team 7, who stood together at the room's center, their very presence making atmosphere feel HEAVY.
Naruto stepped forward, Nine Bijuu with him providing emotional support. "It's a long story. And you're not going to believe most of it. But everything I'm about to tell you is ABSOLUTE TRUTH."
"Then begin," Hagoromo commanded gently. "Leave nothing out. We need to understand EVERYTHING."
THE TALE BEGINS
For the next hour, Team 7 recounted their journey:
Escaping to the DxD universe through Ophis's intervention.
Finding sanctuary with Yasaka in Japan.
Meeting Gojo Satoru, the "Strongest" of the Shinto Pantheon.
Learning about the supernatural world—devils, angels, fallen angels, gods, dragons.
And finally—meeting ANANT.
"Our teacher," Naruto explained, voice carrying reverence that made legends uncomfortable, "is being called Anant. His name means 'Infinity' in Sanskrit. He's son of Shiva and Parvati—two of the most powerful gods in Hindu Pantheon. And he was trained by what they call the Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The gods of Creation, Preservation, and Destruction themselves."
"Impossible," Orochimaru interrupted, golden eyes gleaming with scientific skepticism. "Divine beings are chakra constructs with delusions of godhood. They can't actually—"
"Sasuke," Naruto interrupted, "show them."
Sasuke's Rinne-Sharingan Ultima activated—twelve tomoe spinning as he formed hand seals that shouldn't exist. "GENJUTSU: DIMENSIONAL MEMORY PROJECTION."
Reality SHIFTED.
Suddenly, everyone present was seeing through Sasuke's eyes—not genjutsu in traditional sense, but actual memories projected with clarity that made experiencing them feel like being there.
WITNESSING THE DXD UNIVERSE
The first images showed JAPAN in the DxD universe—but not normal Japan. This was reality where supernatural was NORMAL.
They saw YOKAI walking streets openly—nine-tailed foxes, cat spirits, crow tengu, all manner of creatures that should have been myths.
They saw DEVILS—beings with bat wings and noble bearing, discussing politics in ornate mansions while magic circles blazed around them.
They saw ANGELS—luminous beings with actual halos, their very presence making reality itself seem brighter.
They saw DRAGONS—not summon animals but cosmic entities whose true forms dwarfed mountains, whose power made Tailed Beasts seem tame.
And they saw GODS.
AMATERASU—Sun Goddess whose radiance literally lit the sky, whose power made the Kages' strongest techniques seem like candle flame.
SUSANOO—Storm God whose casual gestures created hurricanes.
ODIN—All-Father whose single eye perceived all possible futures simultaneously.
Beings that made even Hagoromo—founder of ninjutsu, legendary Sage—look WEAK by comparison.
"This is impossible," Madara whispered, Rinnegan analyzing power levels that exceeded anything he'd conceived during his plans for peace. "These beings—they're not using chakra. They're using something FUNDAMENTAL. Something that makes chakra look like crude imitation."
"That's because chakra IS crude imitation," Hamura stated quietly. "Our mother Kaguya ate chakra fruit—crystallized life energy from entire planet. But these beings? They generate power from EXISTENCE ITSELF. From concepts rather than just energy. That's why they seem so overwhelming."
The images continued, showing Team 7's early training under GOJO SATORU.
GOJO'S DEMONSTRATION
They saw Gojo—blindfolded man who moved with casual confidence that suggested absolute superiority. They watched as he demonstrated INFINITY.
"Watch carefully," Gojo's voice came through memory, "because this is the fundamental technique that makes me untouchable."
He removed his blindfold, revealing SIX EYES—blue orbs that seemed to contain infinite depth, that perceived reality at atomic level, that could process information beyond human comprehension.
Then he activated LIMITLESS.
The shinobi watching gasped as they perceived space itself BENDING around Gojo. Not genjutsu. Not technique. ACTUAL SPATIAL MANIPULATION that created infinite distance between him and any approaching attack.
"He controls infinity," Kabuto breathed, medical mind struggling to comprehend implications. "Not metaphorically. Not as title. He literally manipulates infinite space to make himself effectively invulnerable. That's—that's power that operates on level beyond anything we've achieved."
They watched as Gojo opened his DOMAIN EXPANSION: UNLIMITED VOID—and even through memory projection, they felt ECHO of what Team 7 had experienced.
Infinite information flooding consciousness simultaneously. Reality laid bare. Omniscience forced upon mortal minds never meant to contain it.
Multiple shinobi COLLAPSED from just the echo. Ōnoki fell to his knees, nose bleeding. Even Tobirama—genius of analysis—staggered from processing impossibility.
"That's his NORMAL PERCEPTION," Kakashi explained as Gojo's memory faded. "He experiences that information flood constantly. Every moment of his existence. That's why he's called the Strongest—not just because he's powerful, but because his mind can process reality at level that would drive normal beings insane."
"And this Gojo," Hashirama said carefully, "he trained you? Taught you his techniques?"
"He taught us CONTROL," Naruto confirmed. "Taught us that raw power means nothing without precision. That efficiency exceeds flashy displays. That true strength comes from understanding fundamentals rather than just accumulating techniques."
"But Gojo-san wasn't our primary teacher," Sakura added, and her voice carried weight that made everyone focus. "He was preparation. Foundation. What came next—what came when ANANT took over our training—that's when we truly understood what being guardian means."
"Show us," Hagoromo commanded, though his voice carried uncertainty. "Show us this being who trained you. This 'Infinity' who granted us resurrection."
"Are you sure?" Sasuke asked, Rinne-Sharingan Ultima perceiving reactions that would follow. "Because seeing him—even through memory—it's going to CHANGE you. Make you question everything you thought you understood about power, about divinity, about existence itself."
"Show us," Hashirama repeated, though his usual confidence was absent.
Sasuke nodded grimly. "Don't say we didn't warn you."
His eyes blazed brighter, and the memory shifted to show—
ANANT'S FIRST APPEARANCE
The memory showed Team 7 standing in training ground, looking up at the sky as reality SPLIT OPEN.
And through that split, EYES appeared.
Not normal eyes. COSMIC EYES that existed beyond normal perception, each larger than mountains, manifesting as violet void that contained all of creation and destruction rotating in perfect balance.
The shinobi watching the memory felt PRESSURE despite this being mere recording. Felt presence so overwhelming that continuing to exist near it seemed like PRESUMPTION.
Multiple DOJUTSU USERS screamed as their eyes TREMBLED—
Sharingan spun wildly out of control.
Byakugan veins bulged with strain.
Even Hagoromo's Rinnegan FLICKERED, tomoe patterns destabilizing.
Because those cosmic eyes weren't just powerful. They were SOURCE. Every ocular technique that had ever existed—Sharingan, Byakugan, Rinnegan, all of them—they were DERIVATIVES of what those eyes represented.
Pale imitations. Shadows cast by true light. Children's drawings compared to masterpiece.
"What—" Madara gasped, his Rinnegan trying to deactivate instinctively. "What ARE those eyes?! They make my Rinnegan feel like it's—like it's trying to BOW! Like it recognizes superior authority and wants to SUBMIT!"
"Those are DIVYA DRISHTI," Sasuke explained, his own eyes still trembling from memory despite year of getting used to them. "Divine Sight. The Eyes of Omniscience. Anant-sensei's natural perception. They don't just see reality—they perceive POSSIBILITY itself. Every timeline. Every dimension. Every potential outcome. All simultaneously."
Then the cosmic eyes faded, and ANANT descended into view.
The reaction was IMMEDIATE.
HASHIRAMA'S PERCEPTION
Hashirama GASPED, sage mode activating instinctively to analyze what he perceived.
And what he sensed made the God of Shinobi—founder of Konoha, strongest shinobi of his generation—feel SMALL.
"His vitality," Hashirama whispered, voice shaking. "It's—it's ENDLESS. Literally infinite. I've never sensed anything like it. My Mokuton draws power from life energy, connects to nature itself. But this—this isn't just connected to nature. This IS nature. This is life force that exceeds entire planetary ecosystems!"
He staggered, Wood Release chakra trying to establish connection with this being and FAILING because the gap was too vast.
"And beneath that vitality," Hashirama continued, tears forming, "beneath that overwhelming power—there's COMPASSION. Love so profound it makes my desire to protect the village seem selfish by comparison. This being doesn't just protect individuals or villages or even dimensions—he protects EXISTENCE ITSELF with care that transcends anything I've experienced."
"How?" Hashirama asked desperately. "How does being this powerful maintain compassion? Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Yet this Anant—he's ABSOLUTE in every sense, and yet his compassion seems absolute too. How is that POSSIBLE?!"
"Because he was trained correctly," Hagoromo answered quietly, his own perception of Anant's memory leaving him shaken. "Trained by beings who taught him that power serves protection rather than domination. That strength exists to guard weakness rather than exploit it. That divinity means RESPONSIBILITY rather than privilege."
THE TRAINING MONTAGE
The memories continued, showing Team 7's training under Anant's guidance.
And the assembled shinobi watched in HORROR as their strongest fighters were DESTROYED.
They watched Naruto—wielding Nine Bijuu's unified power, operating at god-class levels—get casually FLICKED and sent flying for kilometers.
They watched Sasuke—Perfect Susanoo active, three Mangekyo techniques running simultaneously—get his ultimate defense SHATTERED like glass by finger poke.
They watched Sakura—Eight Gates active, Hundred Healings released, strength capable of destroying mountains—punch Anant with full power and BREAK HER OWN HAND against his casual finger block.
They watched Kakashi—Phantom God Assassination active, existing between dimensions—get HIT ANYWAY because dimensional positioning was irrelevant to being who operated on conceptual level.
"This is impossible," Orochimaru breathed, scientific mind struggling with what it witnessed. "Team 7 is displaying power that exceeds anything we achieved during the War. Naruto's Bijuu Mode is more refined than Sage of Six Paths transformation. Sasuke's Susanoo has density that become more powerful and robust . Sakura's physical strength rivals her master Tsunade MULTIPLIED BY THOUSAND. And Kakashi's dimensional techniques exceed even Obito's mastery!"
"Yet to this Anant," Orochimaru continued, voice carrying awe he'd never shown before, "they're TOYS. He's not fighting them seriously. He's not even trying. He's just—just casually demonstrating that everything they've achieved is INADEQUATE compared to real transcendence. That's—that's HUMILIATING in ways I can't properly articulate."
Team 7 looked embarrassed as assembled legends watched their repeated defeats, watched them get destroyed again and again, watched year of "training" that looked more like systematic humiliation.
"It wasn't humiliation," Naruto defended. "It was TEACHING. Every time Anant-sensei destroyed our techniques, he explained exactly why they failed. Every time he countered our strategies, he showed us what we should have done. Every time he proved we were inadequate, he gave us path to adequacy."
"Watch," Kakashi added, gesturing to next memory sequence.
THE HEALING AND RECONSTRUCTION
The memories showed aftermath of training sessions—Team 7 broken, bleeding, chakra depleted beyond sustainability.
Then they showed ANANT HEALING THEM.
Not with medical ninjutsu. Not with yang release. With something FUNDAMENTAL.
They watched as Anant placed hands on Team 7's broken bodies and RECONSTRUCTED them. Not healing damage—REWRITING their biology to be more durable, more efficient, more PERFECT.
"He's not healing them," Kabuto realized, medical expertise recognizing what others missed. "He's EVOLVING them. Restructuring cells at genetic level. Optimizing chakra pathways. Enhancing nervous systems. He's taking human bodies and making them SUPERIOR to what humanity should naturally achieve."
"That's Otsutsuki-level physiology!" Madara exclaimed, Rinnegan analyzing genetic markers in memory. "He's incorporating alien genetic traits into their bodies! Making them half-Otsutsuki without them even realizing! That's—that's creating HYBRIDS! That's playing god with evolution itself!"
"That's why we could defeat Kaguya so easily," Sasuke explained. "Anant-sensei spent year systematically upgrading our bodies to Otsutsuki-class durability, giving us advantage we needed to face World Devourers without dying instantly. He didn't just teach techniques—he made us CAPABLE of learning those techniques through biological enhancement."
"But he also healed our MINDS," Sakura added softly. "We carried trauma from watching our world die. Carried guilt for surviving when everyone else was trapped. Carried self-doubt about whether we deserved to live when so many had fallen. And Anant-sensei's healing addressed all of it. Made us whole physically AND emotionally."
The memories continued, showing moments of kindness between brutal training—
Anant cooking meals that healed hidden injuries.
Anant patiently answering questions no matter how basic.
Anant demonstrating compassion that seemed impossible for being so powerful.
Anant treating four desperate refugees like FAMILY despite having no obligation to them.
"This is what guardian looks like," Minato said quietly, yellow hair catching light as he processed implications. "Not just strong. Not just skilled. But CARING in ways that transcend personal benefit. He gained nothing from training Team 7. No advantage. No reward. No political alliance. He did it purely because he saw beings who needed help and decided they DESERVED miracles."
MIGHT GUY'S REVELATION
But the memory that affected Guy most came when Sasuke's projection showed Anant explaining Eight Gates to confused Team 7.
They watched as Anant casually mentioned he'd "permanently opened all Eight Inner Gates."
Guy STOOD so violently his chair toppled. "That's—that's DEATH! The Eighth Gate burns all life force! Even I barely survived using it with help! You can't just OPEN all eight permanently! That's—"
Then the memory showed Anant's explanation—showed him revealing the EIGHT COSMIC GATES burning inside him like primordial stars.
Guy SAW them through Sasuke's memory, and his legs gave out.
"Those aren't normal Eight Gates," Guy whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Those are—those are gates that operate on UNIVERSAL scale. Each one contains power that could destroy solar systems. Each one burns with heat that makes my Eighth Gate's flames seem like matchstick. And all eight—ALL EIGHT—are open simultaneously, permanently, with such perfect control that the power doesn't kill him but just EXISTS as his normal state."
"That's what Eight Gates were SUPPOSED to be," Guy continued, voice breaking. "The technique my father died using. The power I nearly sacrificed myself to wield. They were pale imitation of what those cosmic gates represent. We thought we'd achieved peak of human potential. We'd barely scratched SURFACE of what's possible."
MADARA'S HUMILIATION
Madara stood frozen, watching memories of being he'd never imagined existed. Watching power that made his Moon's Eye Plan seem like child playing pretend.
"I wanted to create perfect world," Madara said quietly, Rinnegan perceiving futures he'd destroyed through his arrogance. "Wanted to end suffering through Infinite Tsukuyomi. Believed that forcing everyone into perfect dreams was KINDNESS. That I was being MERCIFUL by removing choice in exchange for happiness."
"But this Anant," Madara continued, voice carrying shame he'd never expressed, "he shows what actual mercy looks like. What real compassion achieves. He didn't force Team 7 into perfect dreams—he gave them TOOLS to create their own perfect reality. Trained them until they could protect what they loved through strength rather than illusion."
"I was WRONG," Madara admitted, and the assembled shinobi gasped because Madara Uchiha NEVER admitted error. "Everything I believed. Everything I fought for. Everything I sacrificed to achieve—it was based on LIE that power justifies removing agency. That making choices for others is kindness. But watching this being—watching how he respects Team 7's autonomy even while training them—I finally understand what Hashirama tried to teach me."
"Power serves protection," Madara finished. "It doesn't grant right to make decisions for those you're protecting. That's not guardianship. That's TYRANNY disguised as compassion. And I spent my entire life being tyrant while believing I was savior."
Hashirama's hand landed on his former friend's shoulder. "Recognizing that mistake is first step to redemption. We'll help you find the rest of that path together."
OROCHIMARU'S SCIENTIFIC CRISIS
Orochimaru had been silent throughout most of presentation, mind processing implications that shattered his entire worldview.
"I spent my life pursuing immortality," Orochimaru finally spoke. "Believed that death was humanity's greatest weakness. That achieving eternal life would allow unlimited growth, unlimited learning, unlimited EVOLUTION. I performed horrific experiments. Sacrificed countless lives. Violated every ethical boundary—all in pursuit of transcending mortality."
"But this Anant," Orochimaru continued, voice carrying defeated admiration, "he's functionally immortal through simply mastering existence thoroughly enough that death becomes OPTIONAL. He didn't need to steal bodies or perform experiments or sacrifice others. He just—just LEARNED until death couldn't touch him."
"All my research," Orochimaru whispered. "All my crimes. All my sacrifices. They were UNNECESSARY. If I'd devoted that same time and energy to legitimate training rather than forbidden techniques—if I'd sought teachers like Anant rather than trying to steal immortality through shortcuts—I could have achieved everything I wanted WITHOUT becoming monster."
"That's..." Orochimaru's voice cracked, "that's knowledge I would have KILLED for. And yet Anant gave it to four random refugees from dying world just because he thought they deserved it. While I've spent decades proving I DON'T deserve such compassion through my repeated atrocities."
HAGOROMO'S UNDERSTANDING
The Sage of Six Paths had been quiet throughout revelations, processing what this meant for his understanding of cosmos.
"No one trained me," Hagoromo finally spoke, voice carrying weight of millennia. "I train myself that how to use chakra, how to create ninjutsu, how to spread power among humanity so they could defend themselves. I thought I understood what being sage meant. What teaching meant. What RESPONSIBILITY meant."
"But watching this Anant train Team 7," Hagoromo continued, Rinnegan spinning with newfound understanding, "I realize my self teachings were INCOMPLETE. Not wrong—just limited by my own understanding. Anant operates at level where my lessons become starting point rather than destination. Where everything I thought represented peak wisdom becomes FOUNDATION for greater understanding."
"This is what true sage looks like," Hagoromo admitted. "Not being who hoards knowledge or distributes it carefully. But being who gives EVERYTHING to those they're teaching. Who holds nothing back. Who invests fully in students' success because their success itself is the reward. That's—that's compassion I never achieved despite millennia of existence."
"Brother," Hamura added quietly, his own revelation equally profound, "we spent our lives protecting our mother's seal. Guarding the Ten-Tails. Ensuring threats remained contained. We thought that was adequate guardianship—watching over dangers so they couldn't harm others."
"But Anant showed different path," Hamura continued. "Instead of just guarding against threats, he ELIMINATES them. Instead of containing dangers, he RESOLVES them. Instead of accepting that bad things will happen and trying to minimize damage, he PREVENTS bad things from happening through absolute strength."
"That's active protection rather than passive watching," Hamura finished. "That's being guardian who transforms reality rather than just maintaining status quo. And we never achieved that despite being sons of the first being to wield chakra on Earth."
THE COLLECTIVE REALIZATION
The assembled shinobi sat in stunned silence as Sasuke's memory projection faded, processing revelations that rewrote their understanding of existence.
"We're so small," Tsunade finally said, voice carrying resigned understanding. "We thought our conflicts mattered. Thought our wars were important. Thought competing for resources and territory and power was NECESSARY. But watching that being—seeing his casual compassion, his overwhelming strength, his willingness to help others despite gaining nothing—we're ASHAMED."
"We fight over scraps," Ōnoki added, his age making wisdom more accessible, "while beings like Anant operate at levels where entire planets become resources they could claim if they wanted. Yet he doesn't. He uses his transcendent power to HELP rather than to TAKE. That's—that's behavior that makes our petty conflicts look like children fighting over toys."
"It makes me question everything," Gaara said quietly. "I became Kazekage believing that protecting my village through strength was adequate guardianship. But Anant protected four refugees who weren't his people, weren't his responsibility, weren't even from his reality—just because they NEEDED protection. That's compassion that transcends borders, that ignores politics, that simply EXISTS because existence itself deserves protection."
"How do we even begin to approach that standard?" Mei asked desperately. "How do we transform from beings who fight over resources to beings who protect ALL existence regardless of personal benefit?"
"We start," Minato said firmly, yellow hair catching light as he channeled determination, "by learning from Team 7's example. They experienced that training. They witnessed that compassion. They learned those principles. And they're here to teach us—not Anant's techniques, which we probably couldn't master anyway, but his PHILOSOPHY. His understanding of what protection truly means."
"We let them guide us," Hashirama added, his authority as founder carrying weight. "We acknowledge that we were wrong about nearly everything. We accept that beings from 'dead world' have learned truths we missed despite millennia of accumulated wisdom. We HUMBLE ourselves and become students again instead of pretending we're already enlightened."
"Most importantly," Hagoromo concluded, his Rinnegan holding certainty that made even legends listen, "we remember that somewhere across dimensional boundaries, being named INFINITY watches us. He granted miracle of resurrection—brought back everyone we lost, restored our entire dimension, gave us second chance we absolutely didn't deserve. And he did it not because we earned it, but because he's COMPASSIONATE beyond our comprehension."
"We don't waste that gift," Hagoromo finished. "We don't return to petty conflicts and stupid wars and resource squabbles that make us look like children. We EVOLVE. We become civilization worthy of the miracle we received. We transform from society that fights itself into one that prepares to face genuine threats—Otsutsuki who'll come hunting eventually, dangers from beyond our dimension, challenges we can't even conceive yet."
"And when we've achieved that evolution," Hagoromo smiled, "when we've become worthy of acknowledgment rather than just recipients of charity—maybe, just MAYBE, we'll understand what being like Anant truly represents. What Infinity incarnate actually means when it decides beings deserve protection."
"Until then—we learn. We grow. We become WORTHY."
The assembled shinobi nodded in unison, understanding settling into their bones.
They'd been given miracle. Now came the hard part—DESERVING IT.
The Ocular Terror and the Devil Clan Massacre KYOKA SUIGETSU - THE PERFECT HYPNOSIS
As the memory projection continued, Kakashi interjected with information that made every Dojutsu user in the room go rigid with terror.
"There's something else you need to know about Anant-sensei's capabilities," Kakashi said carefully. "Something that Gojo-san told us about. Something called KYOKA SUIGETSU—Perfect Hypnosis."
The assembled shinobi leaned forward, sensing this was crucial information.
"Anant-sensei's eyes—the Divya Drishti—they don't just perceive reality," Kakashi explained, his Sharingan spinning slowly as if remembering made it nervous. "They can REWRITE what observers perceive. If he chose to—if he truly wanted to—he could look at the entire PLANET and instantly hypnotize every living being on it."
"That's impossible," a Hyuga clan member protested. "Genjutsu requires chakra contact, specific conditions, preparation time—"
"Kyoka Suigetsu requires NOTHING," Sasuke interrupted, his Rinne-Sharingan Ultima trembling slightly at the memory. "No medium. No physical contact. No chakra transmission. No preparation. Anant-sensei just LOOKS at you and decides you're now experiencing whatever reality he chooses. And you'd never know. You'd live your entire life in perfect illusion thinking it was real."
"It's like Infinite Tsukuyomi," Naruto added, "but WORSE. Way worse. The Divine Tree needed specific conditions—Ten-Tails, chakra fruit, planetary positioning. Anant-sensei needs nothing but intent. He could hypnotize an entire REALITY if he wanted to. Make billions of people across multiple dimensions experience whatever he decided was their 'perfect life' while he does whatever needs doing in actual world."
The Dojutsu users—Hyuga, Uchiha, and Hagoromo himself—felt their ocular techniques REACT with instinctive terror.
"Our eyes recognize predator," Madara whispered, Rinnegan spinning wildly. "Every visual jutsu user here—our bloodlines are screaming that those eyes represent something we should NEVER challenge. That attempting to use genjutsu against being who controls Perfect Hypnosis is suicide."
"But here's what matters most," Sakura said firmly. "Anant-sensei has this technique. Has ability to enslave entire realities. Could force everyone into perfect dreams and rule as absolute god. And he CHOOSES NOT TO."
"He respects free will," Sakura continued. "Respects autonomy. Respects that beings have right to make their own choices even when those choices lead to suffering. He's used Kyoka Suigetsu exactly TWICE in three thousand years according to Gojo-san. Once to show suicidal human their potential future to convince them life was worth living. Once to peacefully incapacitate demon army by making them believe they'd already won so they could rest."
"Both times," Sakura emphasized, "he used power that could enslave worlds to show COMPASSION. That's—that's being who has absolute power but chooses absolute RESTRAINT. That's what real divinity looks like."
Orochimaru's hands were shaking. "I would have killed for such power. Would have sacrificed thousands to obtain technique that makes reality negotiable. And this being just—just HAS IT naturally and barely uses it because he respects others too much to violate their agency. That's—"
"That's what separates gods from tyrants," Hashirama finished quietly. "Power alone doesn't make one divine. It's power combined with wisdom to rarely use it that creates true divinity."
THE DEVIL CLAN MASSACRE - RUTHLESSNESS IN SERVICE OF PROTECTION
"There's more," Naruto said, his voice taking on harder edge. "A story Gojo-san and Amaterasu-sama told us about why Anant-sensei is FEARED across supernatural world. About what happens when someone crosses his principles."
The room went completely silent, sensing they were about to hear something that would define who Anant truly was.
"Five hundred years ago," Naruto began, "a Royal Devil—heir to one of the 72 Pillars, beings who rule Devil society—came to India. He encountered a SADHVI—a holy woman, practitioner of spiritual disciplines, someone under Anant-sensei's protection. And this Devil... he tried to MOLEST her. Tried to force himself on her because he thought his Royal status made him untouchable."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Naruto continued.
"Anant-sensei arrived within SECONDS," Naruto stated. "Not minutes. Not hours. SECONDS. Because his perception spans dimensions and he FELT the violation happening. He saved the Sadhvi. Healed her trauma. Made sure she was safe."
"Then he turned to the Royal Devil," Naruto's voice went cold, "and he used technique that forced the Devil to EXPERIENCE what he'd tried to inflict. Made him feel the terror, the helplessness, the violation. Made him UNDERSTAND what he'd attempted. And when the Devil finally comprehended what he'd nearly done—when he begged for mercy—Anant-sensei gave him choice."
"Death with understanding," Sasuke picked up the narrative, "or life with guilt. The Devil chose death. So Anant-sensei killed him. Mercifully. Quickly. Then—"
Sasuke paused, letting weight settle.
"Then he went to the Devil's ENTIRE CLAN. The Royal family. All 720 members of that royal clan who shared that bloodline. And he used Kyoka Suigetsu on ALL OF THEM simultaneously. Made every single clan member experience what their kinsman had tried to do. Forced them to feel the victim's terror. To understand the violation. To comprehend what their clan culture had enabled."
"When they emerged from the experience," Kakashi continued, "Anant-sensei gave them same choice: death with understanding, or life with guilt and obligation to change their culture. Most chose death. They couldn't live with understanding what they'd been complicit in enabling. SEVEN HUNDRED of the 720 clan members chose execution."
"Anant-sensei killed them all," Kakashi stated flatly. "Wiped out an entire Royal Devil Clan in single night. Not with torture. Not with cruelty. With mercy disguised as genocide. He made them UNDERSTAND why they deserved death, then granted it cleanly when they requested it."
"The twenty survivors," Sakura added, "were youngest childrens who hadn't yet been corrupted by clan culture. Anant-sensei spared them, placed them with Devil families who valued consent and respect, ensured they'd grow up learning different values."
"Then," Naruto finished, "he went to the DEVIL COUNCIL—the leaders of all 72 Pillars—and he gave them warning that's been law in Devil society ever since:"
Naruto's voice dropped to deadly whisper that carried across room: "'IF ANY DEVIL HARMS HUMANS UNDER MY PROTECTION—IF THEY VIOLATE, EXPLOIT, OR ABUSE THOSE WHO CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES—I WILL ERASE YOUR ENTIRE LINEAGE FROM EXISTENCE. NOT JUST THE PERPETRATOR. NOT JUST THEIR FAMILY. EVERY DEVIL WHO SHARES THEIR BLOODLINE ACROSS ALL REALITIES. I WILL MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'VE ENABLED, THEN I WILL END THEM. PERMANENTLY. ABSOLUTELY. MERCILESSLY.'"
"'THAT IS DHARMA. THAT IS COSMIC LAW. VIOLATE IT AT YOUR EXTINCTION.'"
The assembled shinobi sat in STUNNED SILENCE, processing implications of that story.
"He killed 700 Royal Devils," Madara finally said, voice carrying awe mixed with terror, "not for attacking him. Not for threatening him. Not for personal offense. But for one of them ATTEMPTING to harm human under his protection. And he did it so thoroughly that Devil society has followed his rules for FIFTY CENTURIES despite hating the restrictions."
"That's not just powerful," Madara continued, standing slowly. "That's ABSOLUTE ENFORCEMENT. That's being who doesn't threaten—he PROMISES. And when he promises consequences, entire supernatural societies OBEY because they know he means every word."
MADARA'S REVELATION
Madara walked to window overlooking reforming landscape, Rinnegan distant with thoughts that rewrote his entire self-understanding.
"I thought I was strong," Madara said quietly. "Thought my power made me qualified to decide what world needed. Thought I could create peace through overwhelming force combined with Infinite Tsukuyomi's merciful illusions. I believed I was being KIND by removing choice in exchange for happiness."
He turned to face the assembly, and tears streamed down his face—first genuine emotion besides arrogance he'd shown since resurrection.
"But Anant—this being I've never met—he shows what true strength looks like. What real guardianship means. He's RUTHLESS when protecting innocents—will commit genocide without hesitation if that's what preventing harm requires. Yet he's COMPASSIONATE in ways that make my 'mercy' look like cruelty—respects free will absolutely, helps those who need it without expecting gratitude, grants miracles to beings who did nothing to earn them."
"He has BOTH," Madara emphasized, voice breaking. "Both absolute ruthlessness AND absolute compassion. Both willingness to destroy anything threatening his principles AND willingness to help anyone genuinely seeking protection. He's what I TRIED to be but failed completely. What Hashirama tried to teach me but I was too arrogant to learn."
Madara looked at Hashirama directly. "You were the compassionate one. I was the ruthless one. We each had half of what made guardian effective. But Anant—he's COMPLETE. He embodies both principles perfectly. That's why he's superior to both of us. Not just in power—in UNDERSTANDING."
"For first time in my existence," Madara admitted, "I recognize being who's not just stronger but BETTER than me. Better than you, Hashirama. Better than anyone in this room or anyone we've ever known. Because he learned what we never could: that true strength serves compassion, and true compassion requires strength to make it absolute."
"That's DHARMA," Madara finished. "That's cosmic law made conscious. That's what we should have been but lacked wisdom to achieve. And the fact that being this transcendent EXISTS—that Infinity incarnate watches over reality ensuring parasites don't consume everything—that's the only reason I have hope that existence itself is fair."
Hashirama embraced his former friend, both founders weeping for lost years, for mistakes made, for finally understanding what being guardian truly meant.
THE DESIRE TO MEET HIM
"I want to meet him," Tsunade declared, standing with determination blazing in her eyes. "This Anant who trained my students. Who granted us resurrection. Who embodies everything I ever tried to achieve as medic and protector. I NEED to meet him. To thank him. To—"
"We all want to meet him," Gaara interrupted gently. "Every person in this room wants to stand before being who represents perfect balance of power and compassion. Who proves divinity can exist without corruption. Who showed that gods can serve rather than rule."
"When?" A demanded, lightning crackling around him with barely contained eagerness. "When can we meet this legendary being? When can we thank him properly for miracle he granted?"
"You CAN'T," Team 7 said in unison, their voices carrying grief that made everyone freeze.
"What do you mean we can't?" Mei asked carefully. "If he could project himself through the seed, surely he could—"
"He can't come here," Naruto interrupted, Nine Bijuu's unified sorrow making his voice thick. "Not physically. Not even in projection form now that resurrection is complete. Because if he enters our dimension fully, the OTSUTSUKI KING will detect him."
The name made everyone tense, remembering earlier explanations about World Devourers.
"The Otsutsuki King," Sasuke explained, Rinne-Sharingan Ultima perceiving futures that made him shudder, "operates across multiple realities. His consciousness spans dimensions, sensing disruptions, detecting threats to his clan's harvest operations. He's looking for beings powerful enough to challenge Otsutsuki dominance. Beings like Anant-sensei."
"If Anant-sensei enters our dimension," Kakashi continued, "the King will KNOW. Not immediately, but soon. And when he finds Anant-sensei—when their confrontation becomes inevitable—"
"Countless worlds die," Sakura finished quietly. "Because beings at their level don't fight in single reality. They fight across ALL realities simultaneously. Every strike exists in every dimension. Every technique propagates through infinite timelines. The collateral damage isn't measured in destroyed planets—it's measured in ERASED MULTIVERSES."
She gestured, and Sasuke's Rinne-Sharingan Ultima projected brief memory—showing cosmic void with reality-bubbles representing dimensions exploding in chain reactions, dozens of universes annihilating each other from proximity to godly combat.
"Anant-sensei stays away," Naruto explained, tears forming, "not because he's AFRAID of the King. He could win that fight. But winning would mean destroying countless innocent realities caught in crossfire. Would mean sacrificing billions of lives that had nothing to do with conflict. And Anant-sensei refuses to accept that collateral damage."
"So he protects us," Naruto continued, "by NOT coming here. By maintaining distance that keeps King's attention away from our dimension. By sacrificing his own desire to see us again to ensure our world doesn't become battlefield for cosmic war."
"That's—" Ōnoki's voice cracked. "That's sacrifice I can't even comprehend. To have power to visit, to want to check on students, to desire reunion—yet choosing NOT TO because reunion would endanger those same students. That's love expressed through ABSENCE. That's protection through RESTRAINT."
THE COSMIC HORROR AND THE COSMIC HOPE
"But this also reveals something terrifying," Tobirama said, tactical mind processing implications. "If the Otsutsuki King operates at level where fighting him would destroy multiverses—if he's threat that even being like Anant must avoid drawing attention from—what does that mean for threats we'll face?"
"It means the Otsutsuki aren't just aliens who eat planets," Hamura explained, his ancient knowledge finally having context. "They're COSMIC PARASITES who've perfected predation across billions of years. The low-class warriors who'll come to our world are just scouts. The real threat—the King and his elite forces—they're beings who make Kaguya look like infant playing with power she barely understands."
"That's the reality we must prepare for," Hagoromo added grimly. "Not just defending against scouts. But eventually facing forces that could challenge even Anant-sama. That's why he trained Team 7 so brutally. Why he pushed them to transcendent levels. Because they need to become strong enough to defend Earth when truly terrifying Otsutsuki arrive."
"So we're DOOMED," someone whispered. "If the threats are that overwhelming, if even god like Anant has to hide from the King, we're—"
"We're PROTECTED," Minato interrupted firmly, yellow hair catching light as he channeled absolute certainty. "Yes, cosmic horrors exist. Yes, threats exceed anything we imagined. Yes, the Otsutsuki King is entity that could destroy multiverses. But—"
He gestured toward Team 7, who stood together radiating power that made legends nervous.
"—DHARMA EXISTS," Minato declared. "Anant-sama exists. Infinity incarnate watches over reality ensuring parasites don't consume everything unchecked. And he trained four of OUR people to operate at levels that can face World Devourers. That's not doom—that's HOPE. That's proof that existence itself is defended by forces that make even cosmic parasites think twice."
"Moreover," Hashirama added, his wood release sensing life energy that permeated their entire dimension, "Anant-sama granted us resurrection. Brought back everyone who died. Restored our entire reality. That's not action of being who's given up on us or considers us irrelevant. That's investment. That's belief that we're worth saving. That we can grow into civilization capable of defending itself."
"So yes," Hashirama concluded, "cosmic horrors exist. The Otsutsuki King threatens multiverses. Dangers we can't even conceive lurk beyond our dimension. But DHARMA exists too. Cosmic law enforced by being who proves power can serve compassion. And knowing that—knowing someone like Anant-sama watches over existence ensuring worst evils don't triumph—that's reason for hope rather than despair."
"THE GUARDIAN EXISTS," Hagoromo stated with absolute conviction. "INFINITY INCARNATE PROTECTS REALITY. And he's invested in OUR success. In OUR growth. In OUR evolution into beings who can stand beside him as protectors rather than just protected. That's gift beyond resurrection—that's BELIEF that we can become worthy of the miracle we received."
The assembled shinobi took collective breath, releasing fear and accepting hope.
Yes, cosmic horrors existed.
But so did COSMIC GUARDIANS.
And they'd just been trained by the greatest guardian reality had ever known.
"So we train," Tsunade declared, standing with determination that made even Kage straighten. "We learn. We grow. We evolve. We become civilization worthy of Anant-sama's investment. And when Otsutsuki come hunting—when scouts arrive thinking we're easy harvest—they'll learn that Earth is DEFENDED. That humans refuse to be prey. That beings trained by DHARMA ITSELF don't accept extinction as possibility."
"WE SURVIVE," Tsunade finished. "WE THRIVE. WE MAKE ANANT-SAMA PROUD."
"AGREED," the assembly roared in unison.
The meeting ended with unity unprecedented in shinobi history. Not through forced peace. Not through threatened violence. But through shared understanding that they'd been given miracle by being who could have demanded worship but instead requested simply that they become WORTHY.
That was test they intended to pass.
ABSOLUTELY.
END OF SAMPLE CHAPTER
The truth revealed. The gap understood. The shame accepted. The Elemental Nations now knows exactly how small they were—and exactly how much they need to grow. With Team 7 as guides, with Hagoromo's wisdom, with collective determination to never waste the gift Anant granted—they would evolve. Would transform from squabbling villages into unified civilization prepared for cosmic threats. Would prove that beings who learned through failure could become guardians worthy of their miracle. The journey had just begun.
AUTHOR NOTE:
I want to reassure you that the current story, The Return of Dharma, is still the priority. I estimate we have about 20 to 25 more chapters (or possibly even less) to wrap up Anant's current arc properly. The crossover will only begin once we have finished this crucial foundation.
Your Final Decision!
Now that you have a taste of Anant's potential, please re-read the previous announcement and let me know: Which crossover category best suits this kind of character and power level?
Your feedback is essential for planning the direction, tone, and character dynamics of the next major story!
Give REVIEWS to make it more visible for broader Audience
Thank you